Meet Our Team

My name is Ashley Marin, and I’m very excited to be a part of Dorothy Hall! I graduated from Northern Arizona University – Yuma in May 2024 with a passion for education and student success. Before becoming a classroom teacher, I worked as a substitute teacher, paraprofessional, and dance instructor. These experiences helped build a strong foundation for my teaching journey.

My goal as a teacher is to create a classroom that feels safe, welcoming, supportive, and academically engaging. I truly believe that every child is capable of success, no exceptions. I’m passionate about helping students grow not just academically, but as confident, curious, and kind individuals. Teaching is more than a job to me—it’s an opportunity to help shape the next generation, and I take that responsibility to heart every single day.

“The only way to do great work is to love what you do." — Steve Jobs

Hello! My name is Jennifer Raitter, and I am so excited to teach first grade here at Dorothy Hall. Dorothy hall has become my home away from home. I did my student teaching here and have taught first grade for the past five years. I was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. But feel more like a Yuma native. I graduated from Northern Arizona University in 2020 with my bachelors in elementary education with an emphasis on early childhood education. As a teacher, I am driven to build my student's confidence as learners and show them that mistakes help us grow! A quote that I have hanging up in my classroom is, "One is never so tall as when one reaches down to help a child" by Abraham Lincoln. 

Hello! My name is Reagan Sheppeard, and I am proud to be a first-grade teacher here at Dorothy Hall! I was born and raised here in Yuma, Arizona, and love calling this community my home. I earned my bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Arizona State University, and I have had the privilege of working with students across grades K–8. Along the way, I discovered my passion for teaching and inspiring first graders. As a first-grade teacher, I am eager to build a classroom community that celebrates academic success, personal growth, fun, collaboration, kindness, and so much more. I wholeheartedly believe that every child is capable of success, and I am deeply committed to creating a supportive and encouraging environment where that belief thrives. Go Innovators!

"Nothing is impossible. The word itself says 'I'm possible!'" - Audrey Hepburn

Hi, my name is Nereyda Cochran. I am a Yuma Native and love everything Yuma! I graduated from Yuma High School (Go Crimms!) and graduated from AWC and Northern Arizona University with a bachelor's in liberal studies and a master's in education. I have been teaching for 15 years now. I previously taught at Gwyneth Ham and McGraw elementary schools for second and third grades. I currently teach reading and social studies to all third-grade students at DH. I had the honor of opening Dorothy Hall School in August of 2019, and I am excited to continue teaching at DH another year! I love teaching at Dorothy Hall for its vision–all learners will learn through collaboration and discovery. This is made possible through the programs established (KAH, STEM, AVID, Mentor Buddies) and the belief that ALL students have the spark to grow and learn! Yes, expectations are high in third grade-but our students are heroes, so they will meet those in a breeze 😀! I love inspiring my students the love of learning and the love of growing academically, as well as teaching them to read and to apply those reading skills to their everyday lives.

“Believe you can and you are halfway there.” Theodore Roosevelt. 💜

Hi! My name is Morgan Lee, and I’m proud to teach third-grade science at Dorothy Hall Elementary. Born and raised right here in Yuma, I’ve always loved being part of this wonderful community. I earned my dual major in elementary education and special education from Northern Arizona University and have been in the classroom teaching since 2015. My biggest goal as a teacher is to spark curiosity and help my students discover just how exciting and fun science can be. I can’t wait for another amazing year of exploring, experimenting, and learning together! 🌟🔬🧪

“The important thing is to never stop questioning.” – Albert Einstein

Greetings, Innovator families! My name is Celia Venegas, and I am one member of our fantastic third grade team. I am a proud “Yuman” and product of Yuma School District One (Go Jaguars and Falcons!).

This is my 11th consecutive year as a third-grade teacher - four years at McGraw Elementary and going into my seventh at Dorothy Hall Elementary. In my classroom, I strive to provide a learning environment that fosters collaboration, innovation, and fun by integrating AVID strategies and learning through song. It is my goal to make every student’s confidence in their mathematical abilities grow, learn how math is valuable in their everyday lives, and ultimately love math! I look forward to meeting all of the wonderful third-grade scholars who walk into my classroom and impress on them that they are loved and capable of success, no exceptions!

“I'm not telling you it's going to be easy - I'm telling you it's going to be worth it.” - Art Williams